Temperature and humidity have a large effect on drying time for PC. Variations between 3 and 8 weeks for full setup are not unheard of, although you should be able to de-mold within a day or two generally (worst case).
Some things to ask would be how much area of the block is open to air? Is there sufficient circulation on all sides of the block? This includes the bottom if possible, although it is not required it can certainly speed things up. When I am trying to get something cured quickly I put it on a piece of stucco mesh framed (a left over sifter from another project) with 2x4's to allow complete airflow around the block.
You mix sounds fine to me, although I have never used wood ash. It is around the lower limit of what I would use for portland to aggregate unless you are going to add Borax for mold and insect prevention. Welcome to the group and please share your experiences and pictures so others can learn from your work.
- Ernie
--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "bencv@..." <bviglietta@...> wrote:
>
> Good morning. I am pleased to join this group.
>
> I am a member of a group which has been experimenting with papercrete for the past year. We are finding that in our area, upstate New York, it takes perhaps eight weeks a cement block sized piece to try to its fully contracted form. A variation which has two holes in it is still taking 5+ weeks. I will upload a picture of it right now.
>
> Our recipe has been 6, 3, 3, .5 of newspaper, Portland cement, sand, fireplace ash.
>
> My question is whether this is the experience of others? Do we have a bad recipe?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Ben Viglietta
>
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